Yesterday when writing about the expression ‘cold war’ I used another of those familiar (but slightly odd) expressions— ‘fifth column.’
We know what it means.
It refers to enemies within our midst—people who look like us and seem to be ordinary citizens, but who are working being the scenes to bring down all we care about.
We treasure the good things that come to us from the past, but there are some among who hate the past and want to destroy everything that has been handed down to us.
We treasure the words of Shakespeare, the paintings of Rembrandt, the music of Bach and the values of Christianity—but the ‘fifth column’ of enemies within hate all these things.
But why are they called a ‘fifth column’?
Where does that number come in?
It comes from the Spanish Civil War (1936—39).
One of General Franco’s military leaders was General Emilio Mola who was besieging the city of Madrid with four columns of troops surrounding the city.
It was General Mola who famously said that as well as his four columns around the city he had a ‘column of supporters’ inside the city who were his ‘fifth column.'
In October of 1936 The New York Times reported: ‘Police last night began a house-to-house search for Rebels in Madrid... Orders for these raids… apparently were instigated by a recent broadcast over the Rebel radio station by General Emilio Mola. He stated he was counting on four columns of troops outside Madrid and another column of persons hiding within the city who would join the invaders as soon as they entered the capital.’
And we have a column of enemies within us today—who live amongst us but are not part of ‘team Australia.’
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BY THE WAY...
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